Speed camera call to end ‘horrendous’ speeding

Will Cook

A Barnoldswick councillor has called for speed cameras to quell “horrendous” speeding on the town’s main roads.

Coun. Ken Hartley has repeatedly raised the issue with police of speeding along Gisburn Road in particular and “would love” to see permanent speed cameras on the four main roads in and out of Barlick.

Chairman of the Barnoldswick and District Royal British Legion Ann-Marie Benford and chairman of Barnoldswick Town Council Ken Hartley in the pop-up poppy shop in Barnoldswick.'Photo Ben Parsons

Coun. Hartley says the problem exists at all hours of the day but the situation has worsened with farm traffic during the spring and summer months, especially early in a morning.

At the June meeting of Pendle Council’s West Craven Committee, he said: “It’s particularly horrific at this time of year with 300 ton huge, great big agricultural vehicles going like bats out of hell through the centre of town. It’s horrendous.”

Speaking after the meeting, he added: “I would love to see a whole series of photographic speed cameras with number plate recognition on the four major roads through Barnoldswick.

“Sadly I don’t think I can trust my fellow men to obey the speed limit. What concerns me is the kiddy that runs out or the elderly driver coming in the opposite direction that doesn’t know the width of their own car.”

Gisburn Road, Barnoldswick.

According to Coun. Hartley, with access to Gisburn Road Primary School, Gisburn Road Nursery and St Joseph’s RC Primary School in a short distance off Gisburn Road as well as two pelican crossings and a row of shops and parked cars day and night, there’s an accident waiting to happen.

He added: “I may exaggerate with 300 tons but these tractors are designed for the plains of North America not narrow English roads.

“Huge trailers are designed to maximise volume and tractors pulling them are invariably driven by 15 or 16-year-olds. It’s absolute mayhem.

“Barnoldswick is relatively unique for a town of 12,000 I think in that it has one set of traffic lights, other than crossings, meaning it is for the most part deregulated.

“It has a 30mph limit on main roads and 20mph almost everywhere off them.

“None of its roads are A roads and 70% of properties are terraced meaning parking is a premium. If you look at Gisburn Road, one side is entirely lined with parked cars further narrowing the road width.

“Skipton Road is no better and Manchester Road terrifies me. At least we have the puffin crossings in Kelbrook Road by the two schools which we fought tooth and nail for but Lancashire highways said were not needed.”

Eric Grubb, the county council’s speed management and behavioural change manager, said: “We take a targeted approach to tackle problems with speeding in partnership with the police, and meet regularly to review locations to prioritise for enforcement.

“Our options can include mobile enforcement by the police, or measures to encourage lower speeds such as the use of interactive ‘smiley face’ speed signs to make drivers more aware of their speed.

“We’re aware of concerns about speeding on Gisburn Road at Barnoldswick and are due to carry out a speed survey to inform our approach.

“We carried out a speed survey on Skipton Road, Barnoldswick, at the end of last year and included the road on our list of sites for rotation of a speed indicator device.

“A SPID will be deployed for a week in the coming months though we cannot guarantee multiple deployment as this is subject to priorities across the county. If there is a persistent problem we can consider further action.”